Scientists to attempt to rear swallowtail butterflies from eggs frozen in nitrogen

<p>If successful, method could be used to support long-term conservation of species vulnerable to extinction</p><p>Researchers are to attempt to rear swallowtail butterflies from eggs frozen in liquid nitrogen in a test to see whether cryopreservation could support the long-term conservation of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/04/a-very-british-butterfly-spectacular-swallowtail-is-built-for-capricious-summers">Britain’s largest native species</a>.</p><p>In a groundbreaking project, researchers will freeze eggs of captive-bred European swallowtails in liquid nitrogen at -196C and attempt to rear butterflies from the unfrozen eggs, comparing their success with butterflies reared from eggs that have never been frozen.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/02/scientists-to-attempt-to-rear-swallowtail-butterflies-from-eggs-frozen-in-nitrogen">Continue reading...</a>